COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University softball team outscored Lynn and Erskine 16-1 over two games to win its fourth and fifth games in a row to close out play in the 2020 Red, White, & Blue Classic on Saturday. The two-day, eight-game event was held at Cougar Field in Columbus.

To begin the day, CSU (11-8) shutout Lynn 6-0 before run-ruling Erskine 10-1 in five innings.

"Our pitching was excellent this week," commented head coach Brad Huskisson. "You couldn't have asked for anything better."

"Outside of a shaky inning in the first game of the tournament, I was pleased with how we played. We need to continue to build momentum on Tuesday against Montevallo before conference play begins on Thursday."

vs. Lynn

Hannah Rose Corbin was nearly unstoppable against Lynn. In addition to her career-high 12 strikeouts in the circle, the sophomore launched a three-run homer in the fourth to help break the game open in just her second at-bat this season.

After a groundout and a flyout to begin the game, Corbin retired six of the next eight via a strikeout. 

The Cougars led after one with Morgan Elston getting things started with a one-out double down the left-field line. Elyse Ambrose followed with a double deep to right to make it 1-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, leadoff singles by Paris Poston and Maddie Dodson set-up Corbin's towering three-run shot.

Columbus State used the long ball again in the fifth as Dodson made it 6-0 with a two-run blast over the left-centerfield wall.

Corbin (5-3) allowed just two hits in the complete-game shutout. She issued just one free pass. 

Elston (2-for-4, 2B, run), Paige Vincent (2-for-4, 2B), and Dodson (2-for-2, 2-run HR, 2 runs) all had two hits for the Cougars. 

vs. Erskine

Looking for the weekend sweep, the Cougars wasted no time in jumping all over Erskine. CSU scored five runs in the first and added a pair in the second and third to grab an early 9-0 lead.

After a runner's interference call helped Caitlyn Canady and the Cougars out of trouble in the top of the first, the first six CSU hitters reached in its half of the inning.

Canady helped herself with a leadoff single before an Elston double chased her around the bases for the first run of the game. Later in the inning, Vincent and Poston got in on the action with back-to-back singles to make it a 3-0 game. Dodson made it three straight run-scoring singles as she laced a hit to right scoring a pair. 

The Cougars pounded out four more hits in the second to plate another two runs. With Canady and Ambrose on first and second, Parker and Vincent mirrored their first at-bats with both tallying their second RBI singles.

CSU waited until two outs to make it 9-0. With Emily Holmes on second, consecutive doubles by Canady and Elston put the game out of reach for Erskine. 

A fielding error helped Columbus State score its 10^th run in the fourth while Erskine got an RBI single from Katie Hunter in the fifth before the mercy-rule came into effect.

Similar to Corbin in game one, Canady (2-0) got the win in the circle and was productive at the plate. She threw two innings allowing two hits. Harley Dawson also tossed two innings in the game racking up four strikeouts. Lexy Head pitched the fifth for CSU.

Eight of the nine starters recorded hits for the Cougars. Canady was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored while Elston had two doubles with two RBIs. Vincent (2-for-3, run) and Dodson (1-for-2) both drove in a pair.

Up Next

Columbus State will host Montevallo on Tuesday, March 10 at Cougar Field for Military Appreciation Day. The doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m.

Cougar Notes & Trends

• Columbus State is 11-3 over its last 14 games.
• At Cougar Field this season, CSU is 10-2, including three straight wins.
• Corbin continued her torrid pace in Columbus inside the circle. In home appearances this season, the sophomore is 5-1 with a save in 42 innings of work. She has tallied 47 strikeouts.
• Columbus State had a season-high 13 hits and tied a season-high with five doubles against Erskine. 
• This weekend, Columbus State outscored its opponents 31-11. 
• Poston extended her hitting streak to nine games. 
• Elston was 4-for-7 with three doubles on Saturday.